Sharks set for controlled scrimmage against Tampa Bay

Jacksonville Sharks Information

A single play during Friday’s training camp workout best defined the impact rookies have made so far for the Jacksonville Sharks when Xavier Brewer broke up a pass attempt to Andrew Bodenheimer.

The hit rocked Plantation Park. Defensive teammates swarmed to Brewer in a moment of frenzied excitement.

A couple of plays later, Bodenheimer got the best of his one-on-one matchup with an over-the-shoulder catch that got the offense fired up.

“We’ve got some young guys who are really pushing the veterans,” coach Les Moss said. “We’ve got some tough decisions to make. The young guys have stepped it up. There could be some surprises ahead.”

The Sharks have to trim their roster to an Arena Football League limit of 24 players by next Saturday. Jacksonville will take another step toward doing that with a controlled scrimmage Sunday afternoon against the Tampa Bay Storm. Kickoff at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena is at 4 p.m.

There is no admission for the game, but the team asks that fans donate pet food to benefit First Coast No More Homeless Pets, which works to stopping the euthanasia of dogs and cats in shelters.

Not only will Moss have to cut four more players by next Saturday to be at the Arena Football League limit, he has to put together a starting lineup. While Aaron Garcia remains undecided about joining the team or retiring, quarterbacks Kyle Rowley and R.J. Archer remain deadlocked in a competition for the starting job. Bodenheimer and Mardy Gilyard have pushed veterans for playing time as receivers. Brewer, Brodrick Brown and Keiron Jones have made good impressions in the secondary.

“The scrimmage will go a long way to sort this thing out,” Moss said. “Early in the year, it’s always a very fluid situation.”

Brewer went to Bartram Trail. He signed with the Dallas Cowboys as a free agent after starting 34 games at Clemson. Now he’s making the adjustment to the arena game.

“I grew up playing on these fields,” Brewer said. “It’s just an awesome opportunity to be able to play for the hometown.”

Brewer said the veterans have been eager to help in camp, even if it winds up costing them playing time or a job.

“These guys do a great job of keeping everybody encouraged and getting everybody on the same page,” Brewer said. “They don’t look down on you. They want to help you get better.”

Practices so far have been on outside fields. Sunday’s scrimmage will be the first time the rookies have played on the shortened field with walls.

“It will be good to get back out on the field and be in a little bit of a game situation with the lights on,” Archer said. “It’s a lot different than being out here. Make sure everybody comes together, the young receivers are thinking the right way when the lights come on.

“This is my fourth camp in this league, and this is one of the best group of rookie receivers I’ve seen. The indoor game is completely different than playing outside, and it’s a big change for them. But they’re doing a great job. They’ve got a skill set that can help.”

Moss said the real challenge between Sunday’s scrimmage and the season-opening game March 16 at Orlando is finding groups that work best with each other.

“This has been a normal training camp so far,” Moss said. “Everyone is just getting used to playing with each other.”